Seder Yomi

Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה

In this aliyah, Moshe Rabbeinu is warning the Bnei Yisrael not to fall into the trap of thinking that they are inheriting the land of Eretz Yisrael because of their own righteousness. Moshe makes it very clear that the driving out of the Canaanite nations is davka because of those nations' wickedness, and to fulfill the oath that Hashem made to the Avos, Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov.

To drive this point home and break any feelings of pride, Moshe reminds the people of their history of being a stiffnecked people. He begins to recount the painful memory of the Cheit HaEgel, the Sin of the Golden Calf, reminding them how they provoked Hashem's anger at Chorev right after receiving the Torah.

All introductions, summaries, and contextual notes are the editor's commentary and are not part of the original text.אַלע הַקְדָּמוֹת, סִכּוּמִים, און הערות זענען דעם רעדאַקטאָר'ס באַמערקונגען און זענען נישט קיין טייל פונעם אָריגינעלן טעקסט.

פָּסוּק א

Pasuk 1

אַלDo notתֹּאמַרsayבִּלְבָבְךָin your heartבַּהֲדֹףwhen thrusting awayיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godאֹתָםthemמִלְּפָנֶיךָfrom before youלֵאמֹרsayingבְּצִדְקָתִיbecause of my righteousnessהֱבִיאַנִיbrought meיְהוָהHashemלָרֶשֶׁתto possessאֶת—הָאָרֶץthe landהַזֹּאתthisוּבְרִשְׁעַתand because of the wickedness ofהַגּוֹיִםthe nationsהָאֵלֶּהtheseיְהוָהHashemמוֹרִישָׁםis driving them outמִפָּנֶיךָ׃from before you

רַשִׁ״י

אלDo notתאמרsayבלבבך.in your heartצִדְקָתִיmy righteousnessוְרִשְׁעַתand the wickedness ofהַגּוֹיִםthe nationsגָּרְמוּ:caused

פָּסוּק ב

Pasuk 2

לֹאNotבְצִדְקָתְךָbecause of your righteousnessוּבְיֹשֶׁרand because of the uprightness ofלְבָבְךָyour heartאַתָּהare youבָאcomingלָרֶשֶׁתto possessאֶת—אַרְצָםtheir landכִּיbutבְּרִשְׁעַתbecause of the wickedness ofהַגּוֹיִםthe nationsהָאֵלֶּהtheseיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godמוֹרִישָׁםis driving them outמִפָּנֶיךָfrom before youוּלְמַעַןand in orderהָקִיםto fulfillאֶת—הַדָּבָרthe wordאֲשֶׁרwhichנִשְׁבַּעsworeיְהוָהHashemלַאֲבֹתֶיךָto your fathersלְאַבְרָהָםto Avrahamלְיִצְחָקto Yitzchakוּלְיַעֲקֹב׃and to Yaakov

רַשִׁ״י

לאNotבצדקתך,for your righteousnessאתהdo youבאcomeלרשת,to possessכיbutברשעתfor the wickedness ofהגוים.the nationsהֲרֵיbeholdכִּיthe word כימְשַׁמֵּשׁservesבִּלְשׁוֹןin the meaning ofאֶלָּא:but

פָּסוּק ג

Pasuk 3

וְיָדַעְתָּAnd you shall knowכִּיthatלֹאnotבְצִדְקָתְךָfor your righteousnessיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godנֹתֵןis givingלְךָto youאֶת—הָאָרֶץthe landהַטּוֹבָהthe goodהַזֹּאתthisלְרִשְׁתָּהּto possess itכִּיforעַםa peopleקְשֵׁהstiffעֹרֶףof neckאָתָּה׃you are

פָּסוּק ד

Pasuk 4

זְכֹרRememberאַלdo notתִּשְׁכַּחforgetאֵת—אֲשֶׁרhowהִקְצַפְתָּyou provokedאֶת—יְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godבַּמִּדְבָּרin the wildernessלְמִןfromהַיּוֹםthe dayאֲשֶׁרthatיָצָאתָyou went outמֵאֶרֶץfrom the land ofמִצְרַיִםMitzrayimעַדuntilבֹּאֲכֶםyour comingעַדtoהַמָּקוֹםthe placeהַזֶּהthisמַמְרִיםrebelliousהֱיִיתֶםyou have beenעִםwithיְהוָה׃Hashem

פָּסוּק ה

Pasuk 5

וּבְחֹרֵבAnd at Chorevהִקְצַפְתֶּםyou provokedאֶת—יְהוָהHashemוַיִּתְאַנַּףand was angryיְהוָהHashemבָּכֶםwith youלְהַשְׁמִידto destroyאֶתְכֶם׃you

פָּסוּק ו

Pasuk 6

בַּעֲלֹתִיwhen I ascendedהָהָרָהthe mountainלָקַחַתto receiveלוּחֹתthe tablets ofהָאֲבָנִיםthe stonesלוּחֹתthe tablets ofהַבְּרִיתthe covenantאֲשֶׁרthatכָּרַתmadeיְהוָהHashemעִמָּכֶםwith youוָאֵשֵׁבand I stayedבָּהָרon the mountainאַרְבָּעִיםfortyיוֹםdaysוְאַרְבָּעִיםand fortyלַיְלָהnightsלֶחֶםbreadלֹאnotאָכַלְתִּיdid I eatוּמַיִםand waterלֹאnotשָׁתִיתִי׃did I drink

רַשִׁ״י

ואשבAnd I stayedבהר.on the mountainאֵיןthere is noיְשִׁיבָהsittingאֶלָּאbutלְשׁוֹןan expression ofעַכָּבָהdelayingמגילהMegillahכ"א21a:

פָּסוּק ז

Pasuk 7

וַיִּתֵּןAnd He gaveיְהוָהHashemאֵלַיto meאֶת—שְׁנֵיthe two ofלוּחֹתtablets ofהָאֲבָנִיםthe stonesכְּתֻבִיםwrittenבְּאֶצְבַּעwith the finger ofאֱלֹהִיםGodוַעֲלֵיהֶםand upon themכְּכָלlike all ofהַדְּבָרִיםthe wordsאֲשֶׁרthatדִּבֶּרspokeיְהוָהHashemעִמָּכֶםwith youבָּהָרon the mountainמִתּוֹךְfrom the midst ofהָאֵשׁthe fireבְּיוֹםon the day ofהַקָּהָל׃the assembly

רַשִׁ״י

לוחת.Tabletsלוחתluchasכְּתִיבis writtenשֶׁשְּׁתֵיהֶןthat both of themשָׁווֹתwere equalתנחומאTanchuma:

פָּסוּק ח

Pasuk 8

וַיְהִיAnd it wasמִקֵּץat the end ofאַרְבָּעִיםfortyיוֹםdayוְאַרְבָּעִיםand fortyלָיְלָהnightנָתַןgaveיְהוָהHashemאֵלַיto meאֶת—שְׁנֵיthe two ofלֻחֹתtablets ofהָאֲבָנִיםthe stonesלֻחוֹתtablets ofהַבְּרִית׃the covenant

פָּסוּק ט

Pasuk 9

וַיֹּאמֶרAnd He saidיְהוָהHashemאֵלַיto meקוּםariseרֵדgo downמַהֵרquicklyמִזֶּהfrom hereכִּיforשִׁחֵתhas corruptedעַמְּךָyour peopleאֲשֶׁרwhomהוֹצֵאתָyou brought outמִמִּצְרָיִםfrom Mitzrayimסָרוּthey strayedמַהֵרquicklyמִןfromהַדֶּרֶךְthe pathאֲשֶׁרwhichצִוִּיתִםI commanded themעָשׂוּthey madeלָהֶםfor themselvesמַסֵּכָה׃a molten image

פָּסוּק י

Pasuk 10

וַיֹּאמֶרAnd saidיְהוָהHashemאֵלַיto meלֵאמֹרsayingרָאִיתִיI have seenאֶת—הָעָםthe nationהַזֶּהthisוְהִנֵּהand beholdעַםa nationקְשֵׁהstiff ofעֹרֶףneckהוּא׃it is

פָּסוּק יא

Pasuk 11

הֶרֶףdesistמִמֶּנִּיfrom Meוְאַשְׁמִידֵםand I will destroy themוְאֶמְחֶהand I will blot outאֶת—שְׁמָםtheir nameמִתַּחַתfrom underהַשָּׁמָיִםthe heavensוְאֶעֱשֶׂהand I will makeאוֹתְךָyouלְגוֹיinto a nationעָצוּםmightyוָרָבand more numerousמִמֶּנּוּ׃than they

פָּסוּק יב

Pasuk 12

וָאֵפֶןAnd I turnedוָאֵרֵדand I went downמִןfromהָהָרthe mountainוְהָהָרand the mountainבֹּעֵרwas burningבָּאֵשׁwith fireוּשְׁנֵיand the two ofלֻחֹתthe Tablets ofהַבְּרִיתthe Covenantעַלwere uponשְׁתֵּיmy twoיָדָי׃hands

פָּסוּק יג

Pasuk 13

וָאֵרֶאAnd I sawוְהִנֵּהand beholdחֲטָאתֶםyou had sinnedלַיהוָהto Hashemאֱלֹהֵיכֶםyour Godעֲשִׂיתֶםyou had madeלָכֶםfor yourselvesעֵגֶלa calf ofמַסֵּכָהmolten metalסַרְתֶּםyou had strayedמַהֵרquicklyמִןfromהַדֶּרֶךְthe pathאֲשֶׁרwhichצִוָּהcommandedיְהוָהHashemאֶתְכֶם׃you

פָּסוּק יד

Pasuk 14

וָאֶתְפֹּשׂAnd I grippedבִּשְׁנֵי· the twoהַלֻּחֹתtabletsוָאַשְׁלִכֵםand I flung themמֵעַלfrom uponשְׁתֵּיmy twoיָדָיhandsוָאֲשַׁבְּרֵםand I smashed themלְעֵינֵיכֶם׃before your eyes

פָּסוּק טו

Pasuk 15

וָאֶתְנַפַּלAnd I threw myselfלִפְנֵיbeforeיְהוָהHashemכָּרִאשֹׁנָהas the first timeאַרְבָּעִיםfortyיוֹםdaysוְאַרְבָּעִיםand fortyלַיְלָהnightsלֶחֶםbreadלֹאnotאָכַלְתִּיdid I eatוּמַיִםand waterלֹאnotשָׁתִיתִיdid I drinkעַלbecause ofכָּלall ofחַטַּאתְכֶםyour sinאֲשֶׁרwhichחֲטָאתֶםyou sinnedלַעֲשׂוֹתto doהָרַעthe evilבְּעֵינֵיin the eyes ofיְהוָהHashemלְהַכְעִיסוֹ׃to anger Him

רַשִׁ״י

ואתנפלAnd I fell downלפניbeforeה'Hashemכראשנהas the firstארבעיםfortyיום.daysשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidשמותShemosל"בthirty-twoוְעַתָּהand nowאֶעֱלֶהI will go upאֶלtoה'Hashemאוּלַיperhapsאֲכַפְּרָה,I may atoneבְּאוֹתָהּat thatעֲלִיָּהascentנִתְעַכַּבְתִּיI tarriedאַרְבָּעִיםfortyיוֹם,daysנִמְצְאוּthey are foundכָלִיםterminatingבְּכ"טon the twenty-ninthבְּאָב,of Avשֶׁהוּאsince heעָלָהascendedבִּשְׁמוֹנָהon the eighteenthעָשָׂר·בְּתַמּוּז,of Tammuzבּוֹon thatבַיּוֹםsame dayנִתְרַצָּהHe became reconciledלְיִשְׂרָאֵלwith Israelוְאָמַרand He saidלוֹto himלְמֹשֶׁהto Mosheפְּסָלhewלְךָfor yourselfשְׁנֵיtwoלֻחוֹתtabletsשםShemosל"דthirty-fourעָשָׂהhe stayedעוֹדanotherאַרְבָּעִיםfortyיוֹם,daysנִמְצְאוּthey are foundכָלִיםterminatingבְּיוֹםon the Day ofהַכִּפּוּרִים,Atonementבּוֹon thatבַיּוֹםsame dayנִתְרַצָּהwas reconciledהַקָּבָּ"הthe Holy Oneלְיִשְׂרָאֵלwith Israelבְּשִׂמְחָהwith joyוְאָמַרand He saidלוֹto himלְמֹשֶׁהto MosheסָלַחְתִּיI have forgivenכִּדְבָרֶךָaccording to your wordבמדברBamidbarי"דfourteen,לְכָךְthereforeהֻקְבַּעit was appointedלִמְחִילָהfor pardonוְלִסְלִיחָה,and for forgivenessוּמִנַּיִןand from whereשֶׁנִּתְרַצָּהthat He was reconciledבְרָצוֹןwith goodwillשָׁלֵם,completeשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרbecause it is statedבָּאַרְבָּעִיםin the fortyשֶׁלofלוּחוֹתtabletsאַחֲרוֹנוֹתthe lastדבריםDevarimי'tenוְאָנֹכִיand Iעָמַדְתִּיstayedבָהָרin the mountainכַּיָּמִיםaccording to the daysהָרִאשֹׁנִים,the firstמַהjust asהָרִאשׁוֹנִיםthe firstבְּרָצוֹןwere in goodwillאַףso tooהָאַחֲרוֹנִיםthe lastבְּרָצוֹן,were in goodwillאֱמֹרsayמֵעַתָּהfrom nowאֶמְצָעִיִּיםthe middle onesהָיוּwereבְּכַעַס:in anger

פָּסוּק טז

Pasuk 16

כִּיForיָגֹרְתִּיI dreadedמִפְּנֵיbecause ofהָאַףthe angerוְהַחֵמָהand the wrathאֲשֶׁרthatקָצַףwas angryיְהוָהHashemעֲלֵיכֶםagainst youלְהַשְׁמִידto destroyאֶתְכֶם— youוַיִּשְׁמַעand listenedיְהוָהHashemאֵלַיto meגַּםalsoבַּפַּעַםat the timeהַהִוא׃that

פָּסוּק יז

Pasuk 17

וּבְאַהֲרֹןAnd with Aaronהִתְאַנַּףwas angryיְהוָהHashemמְאֹדvery muchלְהַשְׁמִידוֹto destroy himוָאֶתְפַּלֵּלand I prayedגַּםalsoבְּעַדon behalf ofאַהֲרֹןAaronבָּעֵתat the timeהַהִואthat

רַשִׁ״י

ובאהרןand with Aaronהתאנףwas angryה'.Hashemלְפִיbecauseשֶׁשָּׁמַעthat he listenedלָכֶם:to you

רַשִׁ״י

להשמידו.to destroy himזֶהthisכִלּוּיextermination ofבָּנִים,childrenוְכֵןand soהוּאitאוֹמֵרstatesעמוסAmosב'twoוָאַשְׁמִידand I destroyedפִּרְיוֹhis fruitמִמַּעַל:from above

רַשִׁ״י

ואתפללAnd I prayedגםalsoבעדon behalf ofאהרן.Aharonוְהוֹעִילָהand it availedתְפִלָּתִיmy prayerלְכַפֵּרto atoneמֶחֱצָה,halfוּמֵתוּand diedשְׁנַיִםtwoוְנִשְׁאֲרוּand remainedהַשְּׁנַיִם:the two

פָּסוּק יח

Pasuk 18

וְאֶתand —חַטַּאתְכֶםyour sinאֲשֶׁרwhichעֲשִׂיתֶםyou madeאֶת—הָעֵגֶלthe calfלָקַחְתִּיI tookוָאֶשְׂרֹףand I burnedאֹתוֹitבָּאֵשׁin the fireוָאֶכֹּתand I crushedאֹתוֹitטָחוֹןgrindingהֵיטֵבwellעַדuntilאֲשֶׁרthatדַּקit was fineלְעָפָרto dustוָאַשְׁלִךְand I threwאֶת—עֲפָרוֹits dustאֶלintoהַנַּחַלthe brookהַיֹּרֵדthat flows downמִןfromהָהָר׃the mountain

רַשִׁ״י

טחון.grindingלְשׁוֹןan expression ofהוֹוֶה,continuous actionכְּמוֹlikeהָלוֹךְgoing onוְכַלּוֹת,and destroyingמולא"נטmoulantבְּלַעַז:in Old French

פָּסוּק יט

Pasuk 19

וּבְתַבְעֵרָהAnd at Taberahוּבְמַסָּהand at Massahוּבְקִבְרֹתand at the graves ofהַתַּאֲוָהthe cravingמַקְצִפִיםprovokers of wrathהֱיִיתֶםyou wereאֶת—יְהוָה׃Hashem

פָּסוּק כ

Pasuk 20

וּבִשְׁלֹחַAnd when sendingיְהוָהHashemאֶתְכֶםyouמִקָּדֵשׁfrom KadeshבַּרְנֵעַBarneaלֵאמֹרsayingעֲלוּgo upוּרְשׁוּand possessאֶת—הָאָרֶץthe landאֲשֶׁרthatנָתַתִּיI have givenלָכֶםto youוַתַּמְרוּand you rebelled againstאֶת—פִּיthe word ofיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֵיכֶםyour Godוְלֹאand notהֶאֱמַנְתֶּםdid you believeלוֹHimוְלֹאand notשְׁמַעְתֶּםdid you listenבְּקֹלוֹ׃to His voice

פָּסוּק כא

Pasuk 21

מַמְרִיםrebelliousהֱיִיתֶםyou have beenעִםwithיְהוָהHashemמִיּוֹםfrom the day ofדַּעְתִּיmy knowingאֶתְכֶם׃— you

פָּסוּק כב

Pasuk 22

וָאֶתְנַפַּלAnd I prostratedלִפְנֵיbeforeיְהוָהHashemאֵת—אַרְבָּעִיםfortyהַיּוֹםthe daysוְאֶתand —אַרְבָּעִיםfortyהַלַּיְלָהthe nightsאֲשֶׁרthatהִתְנַפָּלְתִּיI prostratedכִּיbecauseאָמַרsaidיְהוָהHashemלְהַשְׁמִידto destroyאֶתְכֶם׃you

רַשִׁ״י

ואתנפלAnd I fell downוגו'.etc.אֵלּוּtheseהֵןareעַצְמָםthemselvesהָאֲמוּרִיםthat are mentionedלְמַעְלָה,aboveוּכְפָלָןand he repeated themכָּאן,hereלְפִיbecauseשֶׁכָּתוּבthat is writtenכָּאןhereסֵדֶרthe order ofתְּפִלָּתוֹ,his prayerשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidה'HashemאלהיםGodאלdo notתשחתdestroyעמךYour peopleוגו'etc.:

פָּסוּק כג

Pasuk 23

וָאֶתְפַּלֵּלAnd I prayedאֶלtoיְהוָהHashemוָאֹמַרand I saidאֲדֹנָיmy LordיְהוִהHashemאַלdo notתַּשְׁחֵתdestroyעַמְּךָYour peopleוְנַחֲלָתְךָand Your inheritanceאֲשֶׁרwhomפָּדִיתָYou redeemedבְּגָדְלֶךָin Your greatnessאֲשֶׁרwhomהוֹצֵאתָYou brought outמִמִּצְרַיִםfrom Mitzrayimבְּיָדwith a handחֲזָקָה׃strong

פָּסוּק כד

Pasuk 24

זְכֹרRememberלַעֲבָדֶיךָfor Your servantsלְאַבְרָהָםfor Avrahamלְיִצְחָקfor Yitzchakוּלְיַעֲקֹבand for Yaakovאַלdo notתֵּפֶןturnאֶלtoקְשִׁיthe stubbornness ofהָעָםthe peopleהַזֶּהthisוְאֶלand toרִשְׁעוֹits wickednessוְאֶלand toחַטָּאתוֹ׃its sinfulness

פָּסוּק כה

Pasuk 25

פֶּןlestיֹאמְרוּthey will sayהָאָרֶץthe landאֲשֶׁרwhichהוֹצֵאתָנוּYou brought us outמִשָּׁםfrom thereמִבְּלִיfrom a lack ofיְכֹלֶתability ofיְהוָהHashemלַהֲבִיאָםto bring themאֶלtoהָאָרֶץthe landאֲשֶׁרwhichדִּבֶּרHe spokeלָהֶםto themוּמִשִּׂנְאָתוֹand from His hatred ofאוֹתָםthemהוֹצִיאָםHe brought them outלַהֲמִתָםto slay themבַּמִּדְבָּר׃in the wilderness

פָּסוּק כו

Pasuk 26

וְהֵםAnd theyעַמְּךָare Your peopleוְנַחֲלָתֶךָand Your inheritanceאֲשֶׁרwhomהוֹצֵאתָYou brought outבְּכֹחֲךָwith Your powerהַגָּדֹלthe greatוּבִזְרֹעֲךָand with Your armהַנְּטוּיָה׃the outstretched

Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם

Moshe Rabbeinu reviews the tragic events of the Golden Calf, describing how he ascended the mountain for forty days and forty nights without food or water to receive the Luchos, only to be told by Hashem to go down quickly because the people had corrupted themselves. Moshe recounts seeing the calf, smashing the Luchos before their eyes, and throwing himself down in tefillah for another forty days to avert Hashem's decree of destruction against the nation and against Aaron. He describes destroying the calf itself, grinding it to dust, and goes on to list other places where the Bnei Yisrael provoked Hashem, such as Taberah, Massah, Kibros HaTa'avah, and Kadesh Barnea, concluding with his heartfelt tefillah pleading with Hashem to spare His nation for the sake of the Avos and His great Name.

לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home

The Torah is warning us here about a very dangerous yet natural human reaction. When things go good for us, when we see hatzlahah in our lives, the yetzer hara immediately whispers in our ear: "It is because of your righteousness, because you are so worthy, that Hashem is giving you this." Moshe Rabbeinu is breaking this illusion. He tells Klal Yisrael straight out: "Know, then, that it is not for any virtue of yours that Hashem is giving you this good land... for you are a stiffnecked people."

Lichoira, this is a difficult thing to hear. But the deep yesod here is actually the greatest source of comfort. If our relationship with Hashem, and all the brachos He gives us, depended solely on our perfect righteousness, we would be in big trouble. The moment we stumbled, we would lose everything. But Moshe Rabbeinu is teaching us that Hashem's goodness to us is rooted in something much deeper, it is because of the covenant with the Avos, and because we are His children, His "am u'nachalah," even when we are struggling and far from perfect.

This means we must live with a double-consciousness. On one hand, we must never become arrogant or feel entitled to our blessings, thinking we earned them through our own frumkeit or hard work. On the other hand, we should never despair when we fall, thinking Hashem has abandoned us because we messed up. He loves us and sustains us because of who we are to Him, not because we have achieved flawless perfection.

Today, when you experience a success, whether in your learning, your parnassah, or with your family, stop for a moment and say: "Hashem, I know this is a free gift from You, not because I am perfect or deserve it. Thank You for Your endless chesed."